South Lake woman arrested after early morning standoff

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An early morning stand-off in South Lake Tahoe ended with police forcing their way into an apartment today.

South Lake Tahoe Police responded to a report of a screaming woman at a multi-story apartment complex on Highway 89 at about 1:30 a.m.

Upon arrival police spoke with Matthew Hamilton, 37, who was bleeding from the head, hand and foot. Hamilton said he and his girlfriend, Kimberly Ann Leard, 33, had been drinking alcohol in his apartment and began arguing. The argument turned violent when Leard began attacking him, which caused his injuries. Hamilton refused medical treatment.

When Leard learned that the police had been called, she climbed over the rear, third story balcony and onto the neighbor’s balcony, and then entered the neighbor’s apartment.

The neighbor, who happened to be in the bathroom when Leard came into his apartment, had heard Leard screaming next door. When he walked out of his bathroom he found her standing in his living room.

As police officers were arriving, the neighbor fled his apartment and Leard retreated into his bedroom.

The neighbor told investigating officers he kept a .30/.30 caliber lever action rifle stored in his bedroom in plain view. Next to the rifle was ammunition.

Officers tried to talk Leard into coming out of the apartment, but she refused and barricaded herself in the bedroom. After several unsuccessful attempts by a department hostage negotiator to talk Leard into giving up, the officers made entry into the apartment. At about 2:40 a.m., they found Leard hiding in the bedroom closet. She was arrested without further incident. The rifle and ammunition were recovered and returned to the neighbor.

Leard was booked at the El Dorado County Jail in South Lake Tahoe on charges of felony domestic violence and misdemeanor resisting/delaying/ and obstructing police in the performance of their duty.